How To Speed Ramp In Premiere Pro - 3 Step Guide

Some people call them 'velocity edits', but speed ramping is easily my favorite type of effect/transition to use with music over the original video. It adds that extra pizzazz that can bring your content to life, giving it a unique and dynamic flow that engages viewers. So, let's dive into the world of speed ramping in Adobe Premiere Pro, shall we?

What is Speed Ramping?

Maybe I should start by explaining what speed ramping is for those who are new to video editing. Speed ramping, also known as time remapping, is a technique where the speed of a clip changes over its duration. It can either be a sudden change in speed or a gradual one, allowing for some creative transitions or emphasizing a particular moment in your footage. I reckon I'll tell you that it's a simple process with big payoff in your final product.

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Speed Ramping Tutorial

The very first step in our journey to creating a captivating speed ramp effect is to properly visualize our workspace. The more clearly you can see your video track, the more precisely you can adjust the speed.

To do this:

1. Hover over the video track on your timeline where you've placed your DJ clip.
2. Click and drag its edge upwards. This amplifies the height, making the speed ramp and other effects much more visible.

A piece of advice: if you're working amidst several clips, consider dragging the particular clip onto a new video track. Speed alterations can modify the clip's duration, and having it on a separate track ensures it doesn't interfere with other clips.

Activating Time Remapping

Time remapping is the tool we'll harness to manipulate the speed of our clip. Here’s how you can enable it:

1. Locate the "Fx" button on your DJ clip. It's a tiny button on the top left corner of the clip.
2. Right-click it. A drop-down menu will emerge.
3. Choose “Time Remapping” and subsequently click on "Speed."

Upon doing this, you'll spot a rubber band stretching across your clip. This isn't just any ordinary band; it signifies the speed of your clip. Previously, it represented the opacity, but we've now transformed its function.

Adjusting the Speed of Your Clip

The rubber band currently lies at its default position, meaning the clip is at its original speed. If you wish to speed up a slow-motion clip, for instance:

1. Click and drag the rubber band upwards. In my experience, dragging it to about 250%-300% usually restores a slow-motion clip to its regular speed.

Inserting Keyframes for Speed Ramping

The magic of speed ramping is achieved by introducing keyframes. They act as markers or milestones, signaling where speed changes should begin and end.

To insert keyframes:

1. Hold "Cmd" (on Mac) or "Ctrl" (on Windows) and click on the rubber band.
2. Add two keyframes. These will segment your clip into three distinct parts.

Consider this: The clip starts with the DJ slowly raising his hand, then he suddenly jumps, and finally lands smoothly. We can position our keyframes just as he's about to jump and right after he lands. This divides our clip perfectly.

Fine-Tuning the Speed Ramps

You may have noticed that once you introduce a speed change by dragging the middle section of the rubber band, the transition between speeds seems sudden. It might feel more like a jump cut than a smooth ramp. But worry not, we're about to finesse it.

To ensure a smoother transition:

1. Click on a keyframe. You'll see it split into two halves.
2. Drag each half away from the center. This creates a more gradual speed alteration, allowing for a seamless transition between different speeds.

Remember, if you ever feel the need to move the entire keyframe to a different location on your timeline, simply hold "Option" (on Mac) or "Alt" (on Windows) and drag the keyframe.

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Smoother Speed Ramping

Keyframes are pivotal when creating effects in Premiere Pro; they mark the starting and ending points for changes in your video. But how does Premiere determine the transition between these keyframes? That's where the concept of keyframe interpolation comes in. Think of it as the bridge connecting your keyframes - it defines how the video traverses from one keyframe to another.

Linear vs. Bezier Interpolation

There are various ways Premiere can transition between your keyframes, but we'll primarily focus on two:

1. Linear Interpolation: When I use this, the change between the two keyframes is constant and even. For instance, if I were to increase the brightness of a scene from 50% to 100% over 5 seconds, the brightness would increase by 10% every second. It's a straight-line approach.
2. Bezier Interpolation: Now, this is where things get interesting. Bezier offers a more natural and curved transition. The change isn’t consistent – it can start off slow, pick up pace, and then slow down again. For our speed ramping needs, Bezier is the go-to choice as it delivers that smooth, ramp-like feel.

Crafting a Bezier Speed Ramp

Here's a step-by-step to help you visualize and execute:

1. Start by selecting the keyframe you intend to modify. You'll find the keyframes on the speed rubber band in your timeline.
2. Upon selection, you'll notice two handles appear on either side of the keyframe. These are your Bezier handles.
3. Click and drag these handles to sculpt a smooth S-curve shape. This shape visually represents the transition speed between the keyframes.

Imagine this: In a 5-second clip of a dancer, I want the first 2 seconds to be slow, the next second to be fast, followed by 2 slow seconds again. Using Bezier, I can create an S-curve where the middle peak represents the fast moment, giving my scene a dynamic and natural feel.

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Speed Ramp Transitions

When done correctly, speed ramping transitions can transport your audience, conveying emotions like urgency or serenity, and establish pacing. Picture this: A sleek Lamborghini races through an eerily quiet city street, its engine's roar breaking the silence. Now imagine this scene transitioning seamlessly into a peaceful shot of the same car parked with the city lights reflecting on its polished surface. The use of speed ramping can flawlessly bridge these contrasting visuals.

Sequencing the Shots

The magic lies in the sequence. For speed ramp transitions to truly shine, it's crucial to understand which camera shots and motions work best:

• Tracking Shots: These are shots where the camera follows the subject, in our case, the Lamborghini. As it speeds through the streets, a tracking shot would give us a sense of motion and direction.
• Wide Shots: To establish the setting, a wide shot of the car in relation to its surroundings can be impactful, especially when transitioning to or from a high-speed moment.
• Close-ups: These shots can capture the details of the Lamborghini, like the rims spinning or the headlights piercing the night, providing a contrasting tempo to the speed.

Now, for the transition, let's craft it step by step:

Step-by-Step Guide to Speed Ramping

1. Setting Up the Clips

In Premiere Pro, import your clips onto the timeline. Place the clip of the Lamborghini speeding first, followed directly by the clip of the stationary car under the city lights.

2. Enabling Time Remapping

Find the "Fx" button on the first clip. This is located on the top left corner of the clip on your timeline. Right-click it, then select “Time Remapping” > "Speed". The rubber band that appears will now control the clip's speed.

3. Creating the Ramp-Up Effect

For the ending of the first clip:

1. Click on the rubber band towards the end of the Lamborghini speeding clip.
2. Add a keyframe (Cmd+Click or Ctrl+Click).
3. Drag the section after the keyframe upwards to increase the speed.

4. Crafting the Ramp-Down Effect

For the beginning of the second clip:

1. Click on the rubber band at the start of the second clip.
2. Add a keyframe.
3. Drag the section before the keyframe upwards, then gradually drag it downwards, decreasing the speed as the Lamborghini comes to a halt.

The shape should resemble a bell curve bridging the two clips.

Enhancing with Additional Effects

Incorporating Shake & Glow Effects

Once you've established the speed ramp, consider adding a camera shake effect for the speeding portion to simulate intensity. To do this:

1. Navigate to the Effects panel.
2. Search for "Camera Shake" and drag it onto your clip.

For the parked Lamborghini under city lights, a subtle glow effect can highlight the serene ambiance:

1. In the Effects panel, search for "Glow."
2. Apply it to the second clip, adjusting the parameters to get a gentle shimmer.

Syncing to Music

For an immersive experience, syncing the transition to a music beat can be pivotal. Listen to your background track and identify a strong beat or drop. Align the peak of your speed ramp transition with this beat. This synchronization can amplify the transition's impact, making it more cohesive and emotionally resonant.

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Precautions to Consider

When working with speed ramping, you must remember that your audio will be affected as well. If you speed up your clip, the audio will play faster, and if you slow it down, the audio will play slower. You might want to separate your audio from your video before attempting speed ramping, or make sure to fix it in post. I'm leaning towards the former option as it offers more flexibility.

There you have it! A quick dive into the world of speed ramping. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to play around with different speed options to achieve your desired effect.

FAQ

How do you speed up a ramp in Premiere Pro?

‍So, imagine you've just done a speed ramp and it's looking pretty neat but you're thinking, "What if I made it a bit faster?" To speed it up, just go to the speed line you adjusted when creating your speed ramp. The higher you pull it, the faster your clip will go. It's like turning up the volume on your favorite song - more is more!

What is the shortcut to speed ramp in Premiere Pro?

‍Speed ramping doesn't have a specific shortcut key like copying (Ctrl+C) or pasting (Ctrl+V) does, I'm afraid. It's a bit more of a process than that. But once you've got your clip selected and you're in the 'Effect Controls' panel, 'Show Clip Keyframes > Time Remapping > Speed' is where the action's at.

How do you use the ramp effect in Premiere Pro?

‍The ramp effect is quite similar to speed ramping, but it's all about color gradients instead. You can find the ramp effect in the 'Effects' panel. Drag and drop it onto your clip, then you can play around with the start and end colors in the 'Effect Controls' panel. It's like painting a sunset - you get to pick the colors!

How do you ramp slow motion in Premiere Pro?

‍So let's say you want to add some drama to your clip by slowing it down at a certain point. This is where slow-motion speed ramping comes into play. You just create your keyframes at the start and end of the section you want in slow-mo. Instead of pulling the speed line up, you pull it down. It's like turning the dial down on the action - things are about to get intense!

How do you use a speed ramp?

‍Using a speed ramp is like using a secret weapon in your video editing toolkit. It involves changing the speed of a clip over its duration, either speeding it up or slowing it down. It's like adding a turbo boost or a slow-motion replay to highlight the best parts of your clip. Remember, you're in the director's chair here.

Can you speed ramp audio in Premiere Pro?

‍So, here's the deal. When you speed ramp a clip, it affects both the video and the audio. That means if you slow down a clip, the audio will also slow down and if you speed up a clip, the audio will play faster. Now, this might sound like a cool robot voice effect, but if that's not what you're going for, you might want to separate your audio from your video before attempting speed ramping. That way, your soundtrack stays just the way you like it.

I hope this clears things up for you! Don't be afraid to experiment - Premiere Pro is your playground.

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